A cool new use for a great old building

The new owners get points for the name, in my book. They also get points for finding a use for one of the more interesting buildings in downtown Albany and for potentially bringing some after-dark life to a quiet corner of the city.

The owners of Beer Land will lease the space from Douglas Ballinger and hope to have the business open by Febraury. Steve Barnes has more info posted over on Table Hopping. (photo by Luanne Ferris/TU)

As part of their target market I find the name somewhat attractive in its authenticity. If their business model is as the name suggests, a place with a wide variety of beers, I think they can do OK.

What may hurt them is their visibility; they are far out of site of any roads where people actually drive or walk. Secondly, bars and nightclubs tend to do better when they agglomerate around like businesses. That being said, Wolff’s Biergarten has done quite well in an isolated corner of North Albany due to its unique business model. If Beer Land can maximize its beer selection with distinctive and otherwise unavailable beers I think they have a shot.

Dan says: “What may hurt them is their visibility; they are far out of site of any roads where people actually drive or walk.”

It isn’t North Pearl, but the building is quite prominent when viewed from the corner of State Street and Lodge (you pretty much stare straight at it), and given a decently large sign I don’t see why they couldn’t succeed.

Also, this is one of my favorite buildings in Albany, or the Capital Region for that matter, and I’m relieved that its fate doesn’t seem tied to a wrecking ball any more (hellooooo convention center).